The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-10-27
ROMANCE OF A PARSONAGE.

gracious aspect. There is picturesque
ness, too, about it's quiet streets, the low
arcades with round arches recalling Span
lsh occupation of Franche Comte, par
OF the rich dover of Mary of Burgundy
and bits of Spanish domestic architectur.
remain here and there. Round abou
rise the pleasant hills, mere gentle decliv
tiles, although designated by the name O
mountains in these parts; little river
runs by the town, hiding itself in a greer
valley; beyond tower the dark pine for
ests of the Jura; while far away stretche.
the Alpine fairyland, Mont Blanc, and
It's sister peaks, fakes of violet and ambe,
in the far distance. So dead alive this
townling of 1000 or 5000 souls, so un
freqnented by tourists and remote from
the highways of the world, that not a car
riage awaits the chance traveller who
makes halt here. Only tumble-dowr
omnibus, for the convenience of bushes.
men, plies between the railway station
and the one inn of the place. Into this
cumbersome vehicle, on bright Septem.
Der day, stepped lad y whose appearance
was little in keeping with such shabby
surroundings. Her dress was simple
enough certainly, a nuns were hardly
palmer, yet the black gown of light
gauze, the long veil that seemed part of it
and the small bonnet, mere coronet of
jet on the golden hair, but served to
heighten the wearer's beauty. Hers was
loveiness of the most digni6ed kind, fea-
lures, figure, carriage, indicated the no.
bility impaired by high rank and elegant
bringing up, as we'll az a certain state
natural to some women and, in spite of
the studied sobriety of dress, evidences
were there of ancestral wealth and splen-
dor From her email ears hung rare
enamels in the quaint setting of the Re-
naissance. The brooch that fastened her
dress was fieur de lis fashioned of pearls,
evidently an heirloom; and as she gath
cred up her skirts to step into the omni-
bus, q flounce of rich lace fell over the slen-
der foot There were no other passen-
gers, and the blue-bloused conductor, hat
in hand, stood by the door awaiting in
structions. So self-absorbed, however,
was the lady, that she did not notice his
presence, and he was obliged at last to
ask her destination.
Slightly coloring, and with the air of
one aroused from deep reverie, she made
reply:
Drive me, if you please, to the Prot
estant parsonage"
Once or twice, when the horses slack
ened speed, and she thought it was time
to alight, her color went and came, she
tremhled violently and drew a deep
breath; but when indeed the wheels
stood still, by tremendous effort she re-
covered self-possession.
I" Is the Pastor AWHILE within ?" Her
voice did not tremble, but it was in a
strained key. She had turned very pale,
and was evidently asking herself whether
indeed she had courage to fulfill her er-
rand.
1.-THE Pastor Anville?-I am he" was
the reply, briefly and absently.
The minister had evidently been dis
turbed in the midst Of serious occupation,
and had not so much as given himself
time TO identify his intruder. This much
was clear lady waited on his Threshold;
he felt bound to invite her within.
He was striking looking man, IN mid
die life-that is to say, in his prime.
But for the habiliments of Protestant
pastor, he must at once have been taken
for Catholic priest. The priestly stamp
Was undoubtedly there-the fine features
closely shavcn, the penetrating look, the
general aspect recalled rather the disciple
of Loyola than of Calvin; and could it
be ? the crown of the head showed un-
mistakabe signs of the tonsure
He was no meanly endowed son Of
Adam, quite the reverse; but for all that
an observer would single him out of
crowd by reason Of intellectual rather
than physical superiority. The noble
brow, the commanding look marked him
from others. He ought to have occupied
one of the metropolitan pulpils of the
world. Such a man could but be force,
moral as we'll as SPIRITUAL mighty lever
of human wills and passions, a powerful
agent in the strife of good with evil.
Bright sunshine filled the little study
in which the pair now stood face to face.
The LADY had raised her veil, her fair, gold
brown hair caught the sunlight. The
place seemed irradiated by her pensive
yet sunny beauty.
"Do YOU not recognize me now p she
asked, in a voice of sweet trembling, fem
mime appeal. "Georgette de Beaumont
-o.times your penitent in days gone
by"
~ forget nothing" was the bitter, per
haps ironic reply. "You are one OF those
who came to my confessional with your
grish derelictions years ago"
For brief moment he had seemed to
stacpcr shrinking from that exquisite
presence; but, just as she had done mo-
ment before, by a violent effort he now
rerained his self composure. Offering
her seat, the pastor placed chair tor
himself opposite her own, then closed the
door, evidently prepared for confidence.
"You have come to me IN some trouoie
or perpexity-tbat l see" he began,
smiling family. "And you are aware OF
NV altered circumstances. AS frlend,
as a minister of the Gospel, am ready to
advise, perhaps able to comfort; the
nr;ast the confessor, the absolver, you
know we'll. have ceased to exist"
al know it," WAS the timid, girlishly
hesitating reply:
Yet the beautiful speaker could hardly
be called girl. She was in the flower o,
womanhood, not its opening bud, and had
certainly passed her thirtieth year.
al should have come to you long ago.,
.be continued, "but my courage tailed
me-"
age failed her still. a lovely blush a, t'ngeo ,
her her cheeks, tears glistened on the Ions
avelasbes. A sudden light seemed t.
break upon his mind. He leaned forwaF'
Enon1v